Structural Reorganization of Cell Membrane Models Caused by the Anticancer Antibiotic Doxorubicin

The molecular mechanisms of the interaction of anticancer antibiotic doxorubicin with lipid cell membrane models have been investigated using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray reflectivity (XRR). The model systems were monolayers of four types of phospholipids, related to the main components of animal cell membranes. New information on the processes of damage of phospholipid monolayer lattice caused by doxorubicin is obtained. It is established that the action of doxorubicin on anionic phospholipid monolayers is determined by the electrostatic interaction: positively charged doxorubicin molecules are incorporated between negatively charged phospholipid functional groups. In the case of neutral phospholipids the key role belongs to the hydrophobic interaction: doxorubicin molecules are coordinated with phospholipid hydrocarbon tails in disordered regions.